The plan would see a 40% increase (700 extra services) in trains running through the North East England, with passenger numbers increasing by 3.5 million a year.


According to Network Rail, the Northern Hub proposes significant investment in rail over the next 10 years to build on work which is already underway. By removing historic bottlenecks – such as at Manchester - it would allow faster line speeds, reducing journey times. New track would give greater timetable flexibility – allowing fast trains to overtake and run at speed while still providing space on the network for vital local stopping services and freight.

Journey times from Newcastle, Durham and Darlington to Manchester Airport would be slashed by up to half an hour. And new inter-regional and trans-Pennine services would be introduced, allowing six trains every hour between Leeds and Manchester, with journey times as short as 43 minutes.

“Through better connections, faster services and improved stations we want to trigger wider growth in the north which in turn will support local jobs and businesses. Our ambitious vision includes miles of track, new platforms and electrification to keep driving up passenger demand while keeping freight on the rails – and lorries off of our already congested roads,” said Iain Coucher, chief executive of Network Rail.

The Northern Hub study will be developed over the next two years. Members of the public can view the study and comment via the website www.networkrail.co.uk/north.

Editors Note: To learn more about Manchester Airport Rail Connectivity, please register for our international conference ‘Customer growth and retention strategies on Airport Rail Links’ where Bob Longworth, Ground Transport Manager of Manchester Airport will be talking about the importance of surface access to the Airport growth.

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